SB 149: Tuition Equalization Grants at Private Colleges and Universities; definition of approved school; revise

Georgia's tuition equalization grant (TEG) program helps students at certain private colleges and universities pay tuition. To qualify, a for-profit (proprietary) college must meet a list of requirements written into O.C.G.A. § 20-3-411, including accreditation, being based in Georgia for a certain amount of time, and meeting quality criteria reviewed by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission. This bill updates that definition. It specifies that the required accreditation must come from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges as a "Level VI institution." It replaces the old rule that a school must have existed in Georgia for at least ten years with a new rule that it must have been located in the state since on or before January 1, 2021, and moves the compliance deadline from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2021. It also updates the wording of several quality criteria, such as changing "research and library sources" to "research and library resources" and broadening "physical plant facilities resources" to cover instructional campuses, facilities, or other physical sites.

• Requires qualifying proprietary colleges to hold accreditation specifically as a Level VI institution from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
• Replaces the old ten-years-in-Georgia requirement with a requirement that the school has been located in the state since on or before January 1, 2021.
• Moves the deadline for meeting all approval requirements from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2021.
• Clarifies that the quality of instruction reviewed must be academic instruction, and updates terms like research and library resources.
• Broadens the physical resources criterion from physical plant facilities to instructional campuses, facilities, or other physical sites.

Proprietary (for-profit) colleges and universities in Georgia seeking approval to receive tuition equalization grant funds, the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission that reviews them, and students at these schools who rely on Pell Grant eligibility and state tuition aid.

The revised definition could change which private, for-profit colleges in Georgia qualify as "approved schools" for state tuition aid. A school's accreditation type and how long it has operated in Georgia under the new date thresholds could determine whether its students remain eligible for tuition equalization grants.

• Section 1 revises division (2)(B)(i) of O.C.G.A. § 20-3-411, changing the accreditation standard to Level VI status from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
• Section 1 replaces the ten-year Georgia existence requirement with a requirement of being located in the state since on or before January 1, 2021.
• Section 1 changes the compliance deadline for meeting all requirements from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2021.
• Section 1 revises quality criteria wording, including changing 'quality of instruction' to 'quality of academic instruction' and 'research and library sources' to 'research and library resources.'
• Section 1 broadens the physical resources criterion to include instructional campuses, facilities, or other physical sites, not just physical plant facilities.
• Section 2 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2025-04-30Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-04-30Act 21
3. 2025-04-30Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senado)
4. 2025-04-07Senate Sent to Governor (Senado)
5. 2025-03-25House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2025-03-25House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2025-03-18House Committee Favorably Reported (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2025-03-11House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)

• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)Patrocinador principal
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)

1. AprobadaVotación: Senado6 de marzo de 2025

   50 a favor, 4 en contra (1 sin votar, 1 ausentes)

   Passage: Senate Vote #180

2. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes25 de marzo de 2025

   162 a favor, 2 en contra (8 sin votar, 8 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #304

• tuition equalization grants
• private colleges
• college accreditation
• higher education funding
• student financial aid